Exclusive: Jonathan Vilma Urges Jets to Flip Draft Picks for a “Joe Burrow Type” Quarterback

Jonathan Vilma knows what the New York Jets need to do to have a chance of getting back on track.

Vilma, who starred for the Jets during his first four seasons in the NFL after he was selected in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft, said that the Jets should consider trading their No. 2 overall draft pick in this upcoming draft to get a proven quarterback such as a "Joe Burrow type" of quarterback or San Francisco 49ers backup Mac Jones.

"I think they should package their first round picks for this year, one of their first round picks for next year, and go after a Joe Burrow type quarterback," said Vilma in a one-on-one interview while speaking on behalf of his partnership with AT&T. 

"Go after maybe Mac Jones for the Niners, go after a proven quarterback that you can watch film on him, whoever the OC is for the Jets can watch film on him and say, 'Okay, I can build my system around him.' Joe burrow, he can play in any system, but Mac Jones, he needs to be in a specific type of system. So if I'm them, I use those draft picks to get a proven quarterback, someone that they can rely on for the next four or five years, then get some of these mid round picks."

The Jets Need A Lot of Help Entering The 2026 Season

All signs indicate that Aaron Glenn will return for a second season as the Jets head coach. In his first head coaching gig, Glenn left a lot to be desired, with New York finishing with a 3-14 record while finishing 29th in points and 31st in defense.

New York was extremely outmatched in most of their games, finishing with a point differential of -203, the worst in the NFL.

The worst statistic of them all? The Jets didn't finish with a single interception despite Glenn's background being on defense as a defensive coordinator and as a former three-time Pro Bowl defensive back.

They are the first team in NFL history to finish with that distinction.

According to ESPN's Rich Cimini, the Jets will move on from Justin Fields after he spent one season as the starting quarterback, leaving a void at the most important position on the field.

Why The Jets Should Trade To Stockpile Assets For Future

When it comes to the draft, the Las Vegas Raiders hold the top overall pick and they're likely to select Fernando Mendoza, the top quarterback prospect in the draft and the Heisman Trophy winner.

With Dante Moore deciding to return to the University of Oregon for another season, there isn't a clear-cut top-ranked quarterback prospect after Mendoza. Ty Simpson and Trinidad Chambliss would be the next best quarterback prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.

"Aaron Glenn did a phenomenal job in Detroit with these third, fourth round picks becoming starters and being very productive," said Vilma. 

"He knows how to get the right guys for his defense. The quarterback, it's a toss up, right? You don't know who. I don't even know who the next quarterback is after Mendoza. But alright, you draft him at No. 2 to say that he's going to produce. So I would rather spend my resources and efforts trying to get one of these quarterbacks that may be on the out for another team who have been really, really good and proven that they can do well in the NFL." he concluded.